Jeffrey Archer

Plays by Jeffrey Archer

Jeffrey Archer's play The Accused was written with a nod to the similarities of the performative environments that are the Courts of Justice and the theatre stage: here, the audience listen to the cases made by both sides of a murder trial, ask themselves if Dr Sherwood murdered his wife, if Jennifer Mitchell was his mistress, and which, if any, of his alibis should be believed.

At the end of the trial, the audience are then asked to deliver their verdict; do they think the doctor is guilty or not guilty. After their verdict is given, the play continues, with one of two endings, depending on how they have voted. Only then is the truth fully revealed.

The Accused premiered at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, in September 2000.

Jeffrey Archer is Britain's top-selling storyteller. He is a former Member of the Parliament and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party. He was created a Life Peer in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1992. He has written ten novels, several of which have been serialised for television and radio, four sets of short stories, and three plays. His first - Beyond Reasonable Doubt - starring Frank Finlay and Wendy Craig, ran at the Queen's Theatre, in London's West End, for over 600 performances. His second play, Exclusive, which ran at the Strand Theatre, starred Paul Scofield, Eileen Atkins and Alec McCowen.